Methanol vs Alcohol?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 426
Likes: 2
From: Sandusky OH
Methanol vs Alcohol?
Whats the difference? Based on skimming Wikipedia, I don't see a "major" difference between the two.
With my car that I just bought, it was tuned for VP Racing Methanol, the expensive crap
I can't get VP around here, but the track carries Sunoco Methanol....anybody know of a difference?
With my car that I just bought, it was tuned for VP Racing Methanol, the expensive crap
I can't get VP around here, but the track carries Sunoco Methanol....anybody know of a difference?
Guest
Posts: n/a
Methanol is alcohol, as is ethanol, which is in liquor. Methanol will kill you if you ingest it, but makes more power than ethanol. It should not make too much of a difference running different brands, but you may want to have your tuner dyno the car with whichever you plan on using to make sure.
Last edited by aTX427; May 17, 2009 at 09:32 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 8,827
Likes: 10
The stoichiometric balance for Methanol is quite different from that of Ethanol. 6.4 and 9.0 respectively. (of course this is a different discussion in and of itself as you want to tune Meth @ about 4.5:1 and Eth @ about 6.6:1)
Additionally, you will make much more power with Methanol!
To answer your question - Methanol is Methanol is Methanol. VP M1 is PURE Methanol (M3 and M5 are NOT pure Methanol).
Sunaco Methanol is the same as VP M1. Meth should be a few bucks a gallon and this is a fair price... Buy a 5 gallon jug of it for $15-$20 and be set for many many months.........
Some folks here will tell you that VP M3 or M5 do very well for them. I hate to be a contrarian, but I have lost power on both M3 and M5. I stick with what works - M1 or Sunaco Methanol.
Additionally, you will make much more power with Methanol!
To answer your question - Methanol is Methanol is Methanol. VP M1 is PURE Methanol (M3 and M5 are NOT pure Methanol).
Sunaco Methanol is the same as VP M1. Meth should be a few bucks a gallon and this is a fair price... Buy a 5 gallon jug of it for $15-$20 and be set for many many months.........
Some folks here will tell you that VP M3 or M5 do very well for them. I hate to be a contrarian, but I have lost power on both M3 and M5. I stick with what works - M1 or Sunaco Methanol.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Ohio
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 426
Likes: 2
From: Sandusky OH
That was the price at the vendor in MI (2 hours from me)
And
That was the price at the shop in NJ
I can get Sunoco Meth at my drag strip, I just want to make sure its all the same as the VP and I can switch without having to worry???
And
That was the price at the shop in NJ
I can get Sunoco Meth at my drag strip, I just want to make sure its all the same as the VP and I can switch without having to worry???
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 2,121
Likes: 2
From: CT
The stoichiometric balance for Methanol is quite different from that of Ethanol. 6.4 and 9.0 respectively. (of course this is a different discussion in and of itself as you want to tune Meth @ about 4.5:1 and Eth @ about 6.6:1)
Additionally, you will make much more power with Methanol!
To answer your question - Methanol is Methanol is Methanol. VP M1 is PURE Methanol (M3 and M5 are NOT pure Methanol).
Sunaco Methanol is the same as VP M1. Meth should be a few bucks a gallon and this is a fair price... Buy a 5 gallon jug of it for $15-$20 and be set for many many months.........
Some folks here will tell you that VP M3 or M5 do very well for them. I hate to be a contrarian, but I have lost power on both M3 and M5. I stick with what works - M1 or Sunaco Methanol.
Additionally, you will make much more power with Methanol!
To answer your question - Methanol is Methanol is Methanol. VP M1 is PURE Methanol (M3 and M5 are NOT pure Methanol).
Sunaco Methanol is the same as VP M1. Meth should be a few bucks a gallon and this is a fair price... Buy a 5 gallon jug of it for $15-$20 and be set for many many months.........
Some folks here will tell you that VP M3 or M5 do very well for them. I hate to be a contrarian, but I have lost power on both M3 and M5. I stick with what works - M1 or Sunaco Methanol.
EDIT never mind I answered my own question. I know the reasons why. It depends on what application the methanol is being used for. For injection M1 is best.
Last edited by Fast06Z06; May 18, 2009 at 02:03 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,149
Likes: 11
From: Greater Detroit Metro MI, when I'm not travelling.
Methanol has approximately 25% higher heat of vaporization than Ethanol. Since you are using it for intake charge cooling, that is why Meth is the way to go.
Not that you can't tune for Ethanol injection.. In reality even water works when set up right...
Not that you can't tune for Ethanol injection.. In reality even water works when set up right...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,149
Likes: 11
From: Greater Detroit Metro MI, when I'm not travelling.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 8,827
Likes: 10
I just called the drag strip, even though their website CLEARLY says Methanol, it is only alcohol that they carry
Very very few folks use "Ethanol" in a go fast application. (Sure, the Government has allowed it to make it's way into gasoline... But again, I don't know of many folks using straight Ethanol to make big power.)
I'd bet 10:1 that it IS Methanol and they just don't realize it. It's worth a trip to read what's printed on the drum. I'm betting it's Methanol!!!
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 426
Likes: 2
From: Sandusky OH
Alky? Do I win the prize?? lol
I don't think there will be a drum to check, since it's a big track, we just have normal gas pumps, we have 110 and 112, and then alky in underground tanks.
I just can't find anybody that carries methanol, other than Livernois Motorsports, which is about 2 hours away.
I guess I'll pay the $55 for 5 gallons, but, seems like I'm getting ripped and it sucks that they are 2 hours away!
I don't think there will be a drum to check, since it's a big track, we just have normal gas pumps, we have 110 and 112, and then alky in underground tanks.
I just can't find anybody that carries methanol, other than Livernois Motorsports, which is about 2 hours away.
I guess I'll pay the $55 for 5 gallons, but, seems like I'm getting ripped and it sucks that they are 2 hours away!
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,821
Likes: 2
From: SoCal
Alky? Do I win the prize?? lol
I don't think there will be a drum to check, since it's a big track, we just have normal gas pumps, we have 110 and 112, and then alky in underground tanks.
I just can't find anybody that carries methanol, other than Livernois Motorsports, which is about 2 hours away.
I guess I'll pay the $55 for 5 gallons, but, seems like I'm getting ripped and it sucks that they are 2 hours away!
I don't think there will be a drum to check, since it's a big track, we just have normal gas pumps, we have 110 and 112, and then alky in underground tanks.
I just can't find anybody that carries methanol, other than Livernois Motorsports, which is about 2 hours away.
I guess I'll pay the $55 for 5 gallons, but, seems like I'm getting ripped and it sucks that they are 2 hours away!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 6,149
Likes: 11
From: Greater Detroit Metro MI, when I'm not travelling.
Alky? Do I win the prize?? lol
I don't think there will be a drum to check, since it's a big track, we just have normal gas pumps, we have 110 and 112, and then alky in underground tanks.
I just can't find anybody that carries methanol, other than Livernois Motorsports, which is about 2 hours away.
I guess I'll pay the $55 for 5 gallons, but, seems like I'm getting ripped and it sucks that they are 2 hours away!
I don't think there will be a drum to check, since it's a big track, we just have normal gas pumps, we have 110 and 112, and then alky in underground tanks.
I just can't find anybody that carries methanol, other than Livernois Motorsports, which is about 2 hours away.
I guess I'll pay the $55 for 5 gallons, but, seems like I'm getting ripped and it sucks that they are 2 hours away!
And what is "Alky"
. Which, by the way, is not actually a word in the English Language, unless you count "Urban Dictionary" which lists it as slang for "Alcoholic, a person who drinks habitually". And Methanol is an alcohol, just like Ethanol, Butanol, Propanol, Isopropyl, Isobutyl, etc.
You just found a place that carries Methanol. As Taylor said; I too have never heard of a drag strip that carries Ethanol.
Last edited by PowerLabs; May 18, 2009 at 08:24 PM.